USW Endorses Mark Dayton, Tina Smith in Minnesota Gubernatorial Race

MINNEAPOLIS, April 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that delegates to the union's District 11 Conference endorsed Gov. Mark Dayton for re-election and Tina Smith for Lieutenant Governor.

USW District 11 Director Emil Ramirez credited Gov. Dayton and Smith, who served as his chief of staff for the past three years, for strengthening Minnesota's economy through job creation and economic development.

"While cutting $2 billion from the state budget, Governor Dayton still managed to help rebuild the state's middle class by prioritizing high-quality education, creating good-paying jobs, and building better highways and public transit," Ramirez said. "Both he and Smith deserve recognition for reforming Minnesota state government and making it more efficient and cost-effective."

Ramirez said that Smith's address to the conference of USW delegates showed she understands the issues most important to workers and their families.

"Minnesotans should be proud of what's been accomplished in the past several years," Ramirez said. "The USW will work to make sure the progress toward rebuilding the middle class in Minnesota – and across the country – continues."

The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, the auto supply and energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.